Late goal propels Sandpoint past Lewiston
Senior defender Ava Mazzilli prepares to hit a header during Saturday's game against Lewiston.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Sophomore Hannah Harvey tries to fight past a Lewiston defender on Saturday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Aliya Strock goes up for a header on Saturday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Kimbo Yarnell fights for possession of the ball during Saturday's match against Lewiston at War Memorial Field.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Piper Frank powers through the midfield on Saturday.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
Hannah Harvey elevates for a header on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kailee McNamee tries to head a ball played into the box on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kalila Tuinstra clears a ball out of the Sandpoint end on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Kate McGregor tries to make a tackle on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Goalie Lilliana Brinkmeier sends the ball upfield on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Piper Frank fights for possession of the ball with a Lewiston defender on Saturday at War Memorial Field.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
Hannah Harvey battles for possession of the ball on Saturday.
(Photo by DYLAN GREENE)
SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint girls soccer team refused to lose on Saturday.
The Bulldogs battled back from a one-goal deficit twice against Lewiston, and in the 75th minute, Kylie Williams fired a shot from just outside the 18-yard box into the back of the net to give SHS a thrilling 3-2 win at War Memorial Field.
In the season opener at Lake City on Aug. 20, head coach Conor Baranski praised his team's mental toughness, and the Bulldogs brought that same attitude to the pitch on Saturday.
"We won that game because of grit and tenacity and that's really inspiring to me," Baranski said. "It's a great sign."
The Bengals took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, but Williams got the Bulldogs on the board 10 minutes later with her first of two goals on the day. On a pass from Hannah Harvey, Williams broke through the Lewiston defense and trickled a shot past the goalkeeper.
The score remained 1-1 at the half.
Lewiston's Naomi Kessler tallied her second goal of the match nine minutes into the second half to put the Bengals ahead 2-1.
The Bulldogs went on the attack after the score and generated multiple scoring chances, and in the 64th minute the persistence paid off. Kimbo Yarnell sent a ball into the area just outside the penalty box and after a couple of deflections, Piper Frank picked up the ball, charged forward and sent a left-footed blast into the goal to knot the contest at 2-2.
Following Williams' second goal in the closing minutes, Sandpoint killed the clock to secure the nonleague victory.
Early in the first half Saturday, the Bengals were controlling the game with a high press that made it difficult for SHS to generate any sort of attack. However, as the opening 40 minutes went on the Bulldogs began to find some success and broke down the press. At the break, Baranski talked to his team about continuing to utilize those tactics because he knew Lewiston couldn't keep up that pressure for an entire match.
Baranski was right and the Bulldogs dominated possession in the second half.
"Lewiston made it hard," he said. "They high pressed and that is a really effective strategy in high school and our players don't see that all the time."
Baranski is excited about what he's seen from his team through two games, particularly Williams, who already has three goals and a pair of game winners.
During the offseason, Baranski said Williams had foot surgery that caused her to miss a significant portion of her club soccer season in the spring. He said that makes her fast start even more impressive.
Williams is already in mid-season form.
"I haven't had specific discussions with her, she's just been getting herself in better spots than she was in last year," Baranski said. "She's good at finishing the ball and both of her feet are weapons."
In the midfield, Yarnell played all 80 minutes for the second straight match.
"I feel like I can't take her out," Baranski said about her impact.
Sierrah VanGesen tallied the assist on the game-winning goal and Baranski thought she showed a lot of growth. Harvey, a sophomore, filled in for Ashlee Webster in the midfield and put on quite the show.
"I thought that was Hannah Harvey's best game in a Sandpoint jersey," Baranski said.
Freshman Lilliana Brinkmeier and junior Kameryn Nadeja combined for six saves in net.
Sandpoint (2-0, 1-0 IEL) travels to Moscow at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
First half — 1, Lewiston, Naomi Kessler (unassisted), 11:00. 1, Sandpoint, Kylie Williams (Hannah Harvey), 21:00. Second half — 2, Lewiston, Naomi Kessler (unassisted), 49:00. 2, Sandpoint, Piper Frank (unassisted), 64:00. 3, Sandpoint, Kylie Williams (Sierrah VanGesen), 75:00.
Shots — Lewiston 9, Sandpoint 13.
Saves — Lewiston, Allison Olson 10; Sandpoint, Lilliana Brinkmeier 3, Kameryn Nadeja 3.
